Reflex camera



C. SPIRO.

REFLEX CAMERA.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-28.1920.

Patented July 4, 1922.

3 SHEETSSHEET l.

C. SPIRO.

REFLEX CAMERA. APPUCATION FILED 050.28.1920.

Patented July 4, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NM MAM mf C. SPIRO.

REFLEX CAMERA.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-28, 1920.

Patented July 4, 1922.-

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES srmo, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

REFLEX CAMERA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 28, 1920. Serial No. 483,597.

T a]? whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES Srmo, citizen of the United States, residing at New York. in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reflex ameras, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a reflex or reflecting camera and particularly to a construction adapted to be compactly .folded when not in use and thus rendered readily transportable.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved construction wherein the case is provided with a pivoted finder plate from which a lense plate is pivotally supported and controlled in its folding movement by a link connection with a cover plate pivoted upon the finder plate.

Another object of the invention is to present a new structure of adjustable reflector mounted to cooperate with a finder and adapted to be shifted into the field of a lens automatically through the winding action for setting a shutter mechanism.

A further object of the inventionis to provide an improved form of release mecha nism for controlling the reflector which in its travel to close a finder automatically releases a shutter mechanism.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective of the camera opened;

Figure 2 is a vertical section therethrough;

Figure 3 is a similar view of'the camera collapsed;

Figure 4 is a vertical cross section on line 44 of Fig. 2;

Figure 5' is a section on line 5 5 of Figure 4; v

Figure 6 is a section on line 66 of Figure 4; l

Figure 7 1s a section on line 77 of Figure 4;

Figure 4, and,

Figure 10 is a detail section showing the reflectorand catch folded.

Like numerals refer to like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The numeral 10 designates a case which has a finder plate 11 pivoted thereon at 12 and provided with a ground glass finder 13 of the usual type. The free end of this plate is formed with angular pivoting lugs 14 at opposite sides which support the lens plate 15 carrying the lens 16. This lens may be of any desired character and focussed by any preferred means,,such as the partial rotation of a tube 17 provided with a pin traversing a curved slot 18 in an enclosing tube 19. i i

The lens plate is formed at its upper portion with pivot arms 20 having link connections 21 with similar depending arms 22 from a cover plate 23 which is pivoted to the finder plate 11 at 24 and folds into contacttherewith when the parts are collapsed. A folding hood 25. open toward the rear, extends between the cover plate and finder plate and is suitably secured to these memhers. for instance by clamping plates such as 26, Figure 1. The parts are held in open or operative position by pivoted braces 27 having at their outer ends slots 28 and seats 29 which are traversed by pins 30 upon the lens plate. These braces are secured to a cross shaft 31 and tensioned toward the case by a spring 32 engaging the case and a lug 33 from the braces.

A reflector 35 is pivoted at 36 in the upper portion of the case by a cross rod 37 tensioned by spring 38 to raise the reflectorto close the finder before exposure. This spring is secured to and surrounds the end of the rod while its opposite ends engages the case, see Figure 4. The pivoted end of the reflector carries a trip lug 39 which cooperates with a finger 40 upon an angular retaining pawl 41 engaging the teeth of a winding wheel 42 which meshes. with a cog 43 upon the shaft 44 of one of the curtainshutters. This wheel is rotated by a finger piece 45 upon its shaft at the outside of the casing and is held in its winding action by the pawl which is released by the reflector trip contacting therewith as the reflector rises to cover the finder glass before the shutter is operated for exposure. This finger piece is formed with wings 46 to cooperate with indications 47 upon the outer face of the case,

see Figure 1. The pawl is held in normal en-.

gagement with the wheel by a spring 48 Patented July 4,1922. I

posure.

. to close the finder 13 before exposure by a" .release lever 70 pivoted at 71 upon the inner operating against its finger 40, see Figures 5 and 8.

A light proof bellows 50 is secured to the lens plate and case by any desired means, such as the clamping plates 51. and is formed with an opening beneath the finder glass 13. The edges of this opening are secured to the finder plate by clamping strips 52. The bellows is adapted to fold inward as the camera is closed so as to cover the reflector and protect the same against injury from contacting parts.

The reflector is held in operative position in the field of the lens and against the tension of its spring by a latch 53 havin an inturned bevelled end 54 to engage t e side edge of the reflector. This latch is pivoted at 55 for movement in a vertical plane and tensioned downward by spring 56 into contact with a stop 57 upon the case. The free end of the latch is pivoted at 58 for swinging lateral movement toward and from the edge of the reflector and tensioned inward by a spring 59. The latch is provided with a pin 60 to be engaged by the back of the reflector in its closing movement and swung rearwardly upon its longitudinal pivot until the free end of the latch reaches a cutout portion 61 of the reflector when the spring upon its lateral pivot 58 causes the latch 'to swing inward where it lies in a plane parallel with the folded reflector, as s own in Figure 9. The bevelled end of the latch permits the same to automatically engage the edge of the reflector as it is set in position for use (Figure 8).

This setting action of the reflector 35 for finding and focussing is automatically accomplished during the winding of the curtain shutters 86 and 87 into position for ex- For this purpose the winding wheel 42 carries a depending curved cam 62 which cooperates with a dog 63 pivoted at 64 upon the reflector 35 and held against a stop 65 by a spring 66. In order that the dog 63 may be forced away from the cam 62 during the reverse movement of the wheel 42 incident to the exposure action, the face thereof is bevelled at 67 and contacts with an inclined face 68 upon the deepest portion of the cam 62. During the winding action the cam 62 forces the reflector 35 downward into proper position where it is automatically engaged and held by the latch.

The reflector 35 is released to permit it face of the case and having one end 72 projected therethrough for actuation from the outside of the case and its opposite end tensioned by a spring 73 disposed between the same and the case. This inner end 74 of the lever is extended upward for other functions to be hereinafter described, and when pressure is applied to its outer end 72 bears upon the latch 53 to swing the same upon its lateral pivot 58 away from the edge of the reflector 35 to release the same for movement by its tensioning spring 38.

The case 10 is provided with means for rotatably mounting a plate holder 75 so that a picture may be taken with either diameter of the plate upright. This cornprises a receiving plate 76 for the holder formed with parallel guides 77 provided with leaf springs 78 to maintain the holder in position. The plate is also provided with a connecting disk 79 having a central aperture 80 and a bevelled or inclined edge 81 which interlocks with a corresponding edge 82 at the rear opening 83 in the case. The plate is also formed with a slot 84 to coact with the usual lip 85 upon the plate holder to determine the accurate positioning thereof. The disk 79 is connected to the plate byscrews 49 (Figure 7) which effect a close assemblage to effect a light tight joint between the inclined edges.

An improved form of curtain shutter has been herein disclosed in view of its combination and cooperation with other parts, but the novel features thereof are made the subject of a separate application filed Dec. 28, 1920. Serial No. 433.598. The winding shaft 44 operated by the winding wheel 42 before described carries one section of the curtain shutter, herein designated as the adjustable section 86 which cooperates with a fixed curtain section 87 carried by the tension drum or shaft 88 at the opposite side of the case. The tension shaft is provided with a restoring spring 89 extending therefrom to the casing and which 'is placed under tension in the winding action to set the curtains for exposure. The spring 89 shifts both curtains in unison but the curtains when separated are brought together by an independent tension device to be now described.

The adjustable 'curtain is connected to the fixed curtain bv bands 69 extending therefrom to drums 99 secured to a shaft 90 mounted in bearings 91 from an edge bar 92 secured to the fixed curtain. This edge bar carries a flange 93 which extends beneath an edge bar 94 on the adjustable curtain to provide an interlocked light proof ioint. The drum shaft is provided at opposite ends with ratchet wheels 95 and 96 having opoositelv disposed teeth and is surrounded bv a coiled spring 97 secured thereto and to the edge plate at its opposite ends. This spring is placed under tension as the curtains are separated and acts to draw the same into contact after the exposure. The nds of the edge bar 92 travel in guides 98 upon the casing to insure movement in a straight path.

To effect the separation and closing of the shutter curtains the spring actuated drums thereon are controlled by trip pawls. Comovement thepost travels from the slide operating with the ratchet wheel 95 is a pivoted yoke pawl 100 embracing the drum and having its .free end 101 guided by a slotted plate '102 from the drum bearing. This pawl is released during the windlng action by its contact face 103 engaging a stop 104 upon the case adjacent the winding shaft which permits the curtains to be separated to the desired extent for exposure. The drum being released the winding movement separates the adjustable curtain from the' fixed curtain and tensions the drum shaft. The ratchet wheel 96 cooperates with a pawl 105 which is pivoted at 106 upon the edge bar and its free end 107 contacts with a release pin 108 upon the case after the exposure action. This free end is guided by a slotted plate 109 from the bearing and both pawls are tensioned toward their ratchet wheels by a spring 110 connecting the pawls at their pivoted ends. When the exposure movement begins the release pawl reengages its ratchet and the curtains are held in their separated position until after passing the lens field. The closing pawl is then released and the curtains drawn into contact with the spring upon the drum shaft. The wings upon the finger piece by their cooperation with the indications upon the case (Figure 1) accurately determine the extent to which the curtains are to be separated during exposure.

For the purpose of timing the exposure the curtains are separated to the widest extent and released until the opening is in the lens field where they are held for the period desired for the time exposure. This may be accomplished by a slide 111 disposed between the winding wheel and case and having an elongated slot 112 embracing the shaft of said wheel. This slide is normally held in inoperative position by the extended end 74 of the release lever which is tensioned toward the slide by its spring. The slide may be provided with a friction retaining means such as a lip 113 cut therefrom and bent to engage the case, while the extended end of the slide is guided by a pin 114 travelling in a slot 115 therein. The opposite end of the slide is bent over and beneath the wheel to form an abutment 116 in the path of a post 117 carried by the under face of the windingwheel to thereby lock its releasing action. This post is also extended above the wheel at 118 and disposed to engage a lug 119 on the slide to shift it longitudinally into locking position. It will be noted that the post travels substantially eight-tenths of a complete revolu.

tion in the winding action during which it passes the end abutment of the slide. and after passingthe entire area of curtain adjustment engages and shifts the slide into locking position. In the reversed exposure lug into contact with the abutment and during this period the curtains shlft to full open position in the lens field in which theytuation of these parts will not interfere. By this construction there is no action of thetimin mechanism until after the field for all a justments of the curtains for snap action has been passed and the widest opening between them reached so that there is no conflict between the different shutter actions. 7 v a In the operation of this camera it is first opened into extended position where it is locked by the braces with the lens and finder in proper relation. The curtain shutters are then wound to tension the same and the extent of such winding establishes the desired spacing of the curtains for the area of the exposure opening, this being determined by the indications upon the case cooperating with the finger piece. adjusts the reflector through the cam on the winding wheel and the reflector is automatically latched in proper position to reflect the image upon the finder for sighting and focussing purposes. The camera is now ready for use and pressure upon the release lever relieves the reflector which swings up-' ward to tightly close the finder opening and at the end of such movement trips the retaining pawl for the winding wheel to permit the restoring movement ofthe shutters during exposure. During this period the curtains travel as a unit in separated position and when the fixed curtain edge bar reaches the tension drum the spring for the drum shaft is releasedcausing the curtains to be drawn together with a light tight joint. It will be understood that these curtains were previously separated in the preliminary winding movement during which the pawl controlling the closing spring was released and as the curtains are separated the band between the same tensions this spring for the subsequent closing action.

For time exposures the winding wheel is Such winding also l the curtains automatically released for exposure travel.

When the camera is to be folded with the shutters in position after exposure, the reflector is disposed in operative position and the braces re swings inward intermediate the reflector and nder with the sides of the bellows inter (1 between the reflector and lens WhlCh pushes the reflectorjrearward. This action folds the cover plate down upon the finder and all of the parts fit snugly within the case. I thus provide a reflex camera of small dimensions in which the parts are adapted to be compactly folded for convement transportation, and wherein the reflector is connected for automatic movement in conjunction with the shutter action.

While the details of the invention have been specifically shown and described, still it is not confined thereto, as changes and alterations may be made therein without de artin from the spirit of the invention.

hat claim is 1. In a camera, a case, a finder plate pivoted thereto, a lens plate pivotally supportedfrom the finder plate, and a cover plate connected to the lens plate to swing the latter toward'and from the finder plate.

2. In'a camera, a case, a finder plate piveased from the lens plate which oted thereto, a lens plate pivotally supported from the finder plate, a cover plate connected to the lens plate to swing the latter toward and from the finder plate, and a brace pivoted upon the case and having sliding connection with said lens plate.

3; In a camera, a case, a finder plate pivoted'thereto, a lens plate pivotally supported from the finder plate, a cover plate connected to the lens plate to swing the latter toward and from t e finder plate, a brace pivoted upon the case and connected to said lens plate, and means for tensioning said brace toward said case.

4. In a camera, a case, a finder plate pivoted thereon, a lens late pivotally supported from the finder p ate, a reflector pivoted upon the case to cooperate with the lens and finder plate, an arm extended from said lens plate, a cover plate ivoted upon the finder plate, and a ivoted link connection between said arm and cover plate.

5. In a camera, a case, a finder plate pivoted at one end thereon, a lens plate pivotally supported from the opposite end of the finder plate, a reflector pivoted upon the case to cooperate with the lens and finder plate, and a cover plate pivoted upon the outer end of the finder plate and having a pivotal connection with the lens plate to swing the latter.

6. n a camera, a case, a finder plate pivoted thereon, a lens plate pivoted upon the the cover and finder plates and a bellows connecting the case and finder and lens plates.

7. In a camera, a case, a finder plate pivoted thereon, a lens plate pivotally sup rted fromthe finder plate, braces having etachable lockin connection with the lens plate and carried by a cross shaft mounted in the case, and a s rin disposed to tension said braces toward sai case.

8. In a camera, a case, a finder plate pivoted thereon, a lens plate pivotally sup orted from the finder plate, a brace pivoted upon said case and having a slot and seat at its outer end to receive a pin from said lens plate, and a spring disposed to tension said brace toward the case.

9. In a folding camera, a case, a reflector pivoted at its upper edge therein, a finder plate pivoted at the front of said case, a lens carrying plate pivoted at the free end of the finder plate, and a cover plate pivoted at said free end and connected to the lens plate to swing it inward intermediate the reflector and finder plate in the folding movement of the camera.

10. In a folding camera, a case, a reflector pivoted at its upper edge therein, a finder plate pivoted at the front of said case and having depending lugs, a lens canying plate pivoted to said lugs and provide with upright arms, a cover plate pivoted to the finder plate at its free end and having pivoting lugs thereon, and pivoted links extending between said pivoting lugs and the arms of the lens plate.

11. In a camera, a case, a finder plate, a lens, a reflector mounted in the case and movable from the field of said lens to cover said finder plate, a shutter mechanism, and means for winding said mechanism connected to move said reflector into the lens field.

12. In a camera, a case, a finder plate, a

lens, a reflector mounted in the case and movable from the field of said lens to cover said finder late, means for shifting said reflector toward said finder, a shutter mechanism, means for winding said mechanism connected to move said reflector into the lens field, and means actuated by the reflector during .said shifting to release the shutter mechanism.

13. In a camera, a case, a finder plate, a lens, a reflector pivoted in the case and mov able from the field of said lens to cover said finder plate, means for tensioning the relens, a reflector pivoted to swing from the field of the lens to cover said finder plate, means for tensioning the reflector toward the finder plate, a shutter mechanism, a retaining pawl disposed at the reflector pivot for holding said mechanism under tension, and a trip plate carried by the reflector adjacent its pivot to engage said pawl and release the shutter mechanism.

15-. In a camera, a case, a finder plate, a lens, a reflector mounted in the case and movable from the field of the lens to cover said finder plate, a shutter mechanism, means for Winding said mechanism connected to move the reflector into the lens field, means for tensioning said reflector toward said finder plate, and a latch for retaining the reflector in the lens field.

16. In a camera, a case, a finder plate, a lens, a reflector mounted in the case and movable from the field of the lens to cover said finder plate, a shutter mechanism, means for winding said mechanism connected to move the reflector into the lens field, means for tensioning the reflector toward the finder plate, a laterally swinging latch for engaging said reflector when in the lens field, and a release lever disposed to disengage said latch.

17. In a camera, a case, a finder plate, a lens, a reflector mounted in the case and movable from the field of the lens to cover said finder plate, a shutter mechanism, means for winding said mechanism connected to move the reflector into the lens field, means for tensioning the reflector toward the finder plate, a latch for retaining the reflector in the lens field, a release lever disposed to disengage said latch, and means upon the reflector for releasing said winding means.

18. In a camera, a case, a finder plate, a lens, a reflector mounted in the case for movement toward and from the finder plate, ten-- sion means for moving the reflector toward the finder plate, a shutter mechanism, a winding wheel therefor, and means carried by said wheel to engage and move the reflector away from the finder plate.

19. In a camera, a case, a finder plate, a lens, a reflector mounted in the case for movement toward and from the finder plate, tension means for moving the reflector toward the finder plate, a shutter mechanism, a winding wheel therefor, and a cam upon said wheel for moving the reflector away from the finder plate during'the winding action.

20. In a camera, a case, a finder plate, a lens, a reflector mounted in the case for movement toward and from the finder plate, tension means for moving the reflector toward the finder plate, a shutter mechanism, a winding wheel therefor, a cam upon said wheel, and a dog upon the reflector mov-' able away'from said cam and disposed to be engaged thereby to move the reflector.

21. In a camera. a case, a finder plate, a lens, a reflector mounted in the case for movement toward and from the finder plate, tension means for moving the reflector toward the finder plate, a shutter mechanism,

a winding wheel therefor, a cam upon said tension means for moving the reflector to-- ward the finder plate, a shutter mechanism, a winding wheel therefor, a depending cam upon the under face of said wheel having an inclined face at its deepest portion, a pivoted dog upon the reflector having its free end inclined to engage said face, and a spring for projecting said dog into the path of said cam.

23. In a camera, a case, a finder plate, a lens, a reflector pivoted in the case and ten sioned for movement in one direction, a latch pivoted to swing in one plane and having a reflector engaging portion pivoted thereon to swing in a plane lateral thereto, and releasing means disposed to engage said portion.

24. In a camera, a case, a finder plate, a lens, a reflector pivoted in the case and tensioned for movement in one direction, a latch pivoted to swing in one plane and having a reflector engaging portion pivoted thereon to swin in a plane lateral thereto, means for tensioning said latch outward from the case into contact with a stop, and

releasing means disposed to engage said portion.

25. In a camera, a case, a finder plate, a lens, a reflector pivoted in the case and tensioned for movement toward the finder plate, a latch pivoted to swing in a vertical plane and having a reflector engaging portion pivoted thereon to swing in a plane lateral thereto, means for tensioning said latch outward from the case, means for tensioning said portion toward said reflector, and releasing means upon the case for shifting said portion away from the reflector.

26. In a camera, a case, a finder plate, a lens, a reflector pivoted in the case and tensioned toward the finder plate, a pivoted latch disposed to retain the reflector under tension, a shutter mechanism provided with a retaining device, and a release lever mounted upon the case with an operating end projected therethrough and an inner end disposed to engage and release said latch and also said retaining device.

27. In a camera, a case, a finder plate, a lens, a reflector pivoted in the case and tensioned toward the finderiplate, a reflector latch pivoted to fold toward the rear of the case and having a pivoted engaging portion a latch pivoted at the rear of the reflector to fold toward the back of the case, an engaging portion pivoted on said latch and arranged to enter said recess and fold upon the outer face of the reflector, and means upon the reflector to engage said latch in its movement toward the rear of the case.

In testimony ture.

CHARLES SPIRO.

whereof I affix my signal- 

